The aim of Karten Network research partnerships is to support the meaningful involvement of disabled people in technology research and development. Our research team has decades of experience working directly with disabled people of all ages. We understand the unique challenges people with impairments may face engaging with research, and we facilitate high-quality and on-going participation in projects. The team love working directly with research participants- offering flexible, creative, and compassionate support.
If you are interested in partnering with the Karten Network for your technology research project, please contact Dawn Green at dawn@karten-network.org.uk.
Projects
Nuvoic
The Karten Network is delighted to be a partner in the Nuvoic Project, which aims to support easier communication and improved independence for people who have speech difficulties.
The Voiceitt app helps people with impaired speech to communicate using their own voice, and control voice-driven smart speakers or other smart home devices. Users train their chosen phrases and commands and Voiceitt learns to recognize their pronunciation. When it hears a trained prompt, the app speaks the matching phrase and displays it onscreen, or activates the matching command on a smart speaker.
For more information and how to participate in the project please visit the Nuvoic website
Research Team
Dr Dawn Green
Development Co-ordinator
Dawn has over 25 years’ experience working in Further Education, the majority of which was spent in senior leadership roles in Specialist Colleges. Dawn established her consultancy company in 2015 and has since been involved in a range of consultancy services, interim leadership positions and project based opportunities.
Dawn’s work for the Karten Network focuses on the use of Assistive Technologies for people with SEND, she believes that technology is a significant strategic enabler for organisations and the impact on the lives of individuals with complex needs can be transformational if technology is harnessed effectively. Dawn works collaboratively across a number of networks and individual organisations to develop capacity, understanding and skills to optimise the impact of technology and assistive technology for the people they support. Latterly with the Karten Network Dawn has developed a partnership with Voiceitt, resulting in participation in the Nuvoic Project.
Dawn’s research interests began back in the 1990s when she was a postgraduate scholar at the University of Sheffield, achieving a PhD in Microbial Biochemistry in 1994.
Social Media
Dr Liz Howarth
Project Co-ordinator
Liz joined the Karten Network in 2020 as Project Co-ordinator for the Nuvoic Project, managing user involvement in collaborative co-design with partners Voiceitt to develop accessible and inclusive speech recognition. Previously she worked in learning and communication support and assistive technology roles at Beaumont College, a specialist FE college in Lancaster.
Liz received her PhD in Mathematical Sciences from the University of Manchester in 2015 and has also worked as a statistician at the University of Manchester’s Centre for Biostatistics, contributing to several clinical trials and evaluation studies.
Publications
Can we provide the bells and whistles? Supporting PC-based VOCAs and accessible computers
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Can we provide the bells and whistles? Supporting PC-based VOCAs and accessible computersLiz's publications with the University of Manchester
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Liz's publications with the University of ManchesterSocial Media
Dr Martin Pistorius
Technology Advisor
Martin had humble beginnings, starting his working career in 2003 making photocopies before moving on to looking after the organisation’s computers and network. Martin accepted a post at the Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC) at the University of Pretoria. There he ran the CAAC’s website, managed the AAC and assistive technology and promoted the use of AAC.
Martin then joined the Council for Industrial and Scientific Research where he was involved in various projects aimed at using technology to support people with disabilities.
Martin immigrated to the United Kingdom establishing his website and IT consultancy business in 2009. Martin Joined the Karten Network in 2014 as the Technology Advisor, providing technical support and advice to the Karten Network, as well as managing the Karten networks website and business systems.
Martin has a disability and uses AAC to communicate giving him greater insight into the difference technology can make. He has a passion for web accessibility, usability and the use of technology to support and improve people’s lives.
Martin received a BSc (Hons) Computer Science degree from the University of Hertfordshire in 2013 and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Dundee in 2018.